[beatrix45]

Whole lotta result playin' goin' on around here. A cautious 2♣ call (as opposed to a pushy 3♣ bid) seems absolutely called for when I am 2-1 in partner's suits. It is a 'free' bid, so pard will know I have decent playing strength and will surely raise to 3♣ looking at a hand worth around 11 points in support of ♣ and a likely 10 card trump suit. Now we should get to the RIGHT game (5♣) after I cue bid 3♦.

As far as playing in 3NT goes, all defenders have to do is not lead a spade or continue diamonds into the wheel and declarer loses 3♥, 1♦ and the ace of ♠. Most of the time this won't happen but only because East's hopeless 1♠ bid will induce West to shift to spades instead of hearts at trick two.

The board is probably going to be a push. You get +430 in a mis-defended 3NT. I get +420 in 5♣ when your team mate lets me steal the heart.

[pclayton]

beatrix45, on Apr 23 2005, 01:16 PM, said:

Whole lotta result playin' goin' on around here. A cautious 2♣ call (as opposed to a pushy 3♣ bid) seems absolutely called for when I am 2-1 in partner's suits. It is a 'free' bid, so pard will know I have decent playing strength and will surely raise to 3♣ looking at a hand worth around 11 points in support of ♣ and a likely 10 card trump suit. Now we should get to the RIGHT game (5♣) after I cue bid 3♦.

As far as playing in 3NT goes, all defenders have to do is not lead a spade or continue diamonds into the wheel and declarer loses 3♥, 1♦ and the ace of ♠. Most of the time this won't happen but only because East's hopeless 1♠ bid will induce West to shift to spades instead of hearts at trick two.

The board is probably going to be a push. You get +430 in a mis-defended 3NT. I get +420 in 5♣ when your team mate lets me steal the heart.

The "free bid" went out with the buggy whip.

And no, it takes a very precise defense to beat 3N.

[beatrix45]

pclayton, on Apr 23 2005, 02:19 PM, said:

And no, it takes a very precise defense to beat 3N.

You mean 'precise' as in making the obvious ♦ king lead, then shifting to a small heart at trick two and having a partner who isn't a moron.

5♣ is untouchable on the existing lay of the cards. Partner should see that we get there whether I bid 2 ♣ or 3♣ at my second turn.